Device to close a side dispensing orifice by axial sliding with push button element

Abstract

The invention relates to a device to open and close a side dispensing orifice (1) by sliding comprising a lateral skirt (8) and a transversal wall (9) having an evacuation passage (10) of the content, a dispensing element (4) comprising a lateral wall (11) coming in contact against the lateral skirt (8) of the cap (3), a top face (12), and an elbowed passage (13) for the content, in connection with the extremity in the axial direction with the evacuation passage (10) and emerging at a radial extremity on the lateral wall (11) by a lateral dispensing orifice (1). The dispensing element (4) is slidingly mounted in an axial direction (D) on the cap (3) between two extreme positions, of closing and of opening, respectively. According to the invention, the dispensing element (4) divides the cavity defined by the lateral skirt (8) and the transversal wall (9) of the cap (3) with a push button element (4) slidingly mounted on the cap (3) in the axial direction between a rest position and an active position, and comprising a lateral wall (14) coming partly in contact against the lateral skirt (8) of the cap (3), a top face (15). The device comprises a transmission element (6) transmitting the movement of the push button element (5) from the rest position to the active position into movement of the dispensing element (4) from the closed position to the open position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Device to close by axial sliding a side dispensing orifice (1) for a container (2), the device comprising a cap (3) having a lateral skirt (8) and a transverse wall (9) provided with an evacuation passage (10); a dispensing element (4) having a lateral wall (11) in sliding contact with said lateral skirt (8), a top face (12), and an elbowed passage (13) extending partially in the direction of sliding and partially radially, communicating with said evacuation passage (10) and opening on said lateral wall (11) as said side dispensing orifice (1); said dispensing element (4) being slidably mounted partly into a cavity defined by said lateral skirt (8) and said transverse wall (9) of said cap (3) between a closed position wherein said lateral skirt (8) masks said side dispensing orifice (1) and an open position wherein said side dispensing orifice (1) is uncovered; first means for slidably guiding and blocking the sliding movement of the element (4) with respect to the cap (3); and means to control the sliding movement of said dispensing element (4); wherein said control means comprise a push button element (5) mounted in sliding contact with said dispensing element (4) and said skirt (8) in order to slide axially in the cavity of the cap (3), between a rest position and an active position; the push button element (5) having a lateral wall (14) in sliding contact with said lateral skirt (8), and a top face (15); and wherein said device further comprises second means for slidably guiding and blocking said push button element (5) between said active and rest positions, and said control means further comprising a transmission element (6) for transmitting axially sliding movements of said push button element (5) to said dispensing element (4) and vice-versa, in an opposite direction, said transmission element (6) comprising a pivoting element mounted in the cavity of the cap (3), and rotatable about an axis (16) orthogonal to an axial direction (D), said transmission element (6) comprising two connected parts (17, 18) disposed on either side of said orthogonal axis (16) each said part (17, 18) being in contact with a respective one of said dispensing and push button elements (4, 5). 
     
     
       2. Device according to claim 1 wherein said transverse wall (9) comprises, toward the container (2) a main threaded axial annular extension (19) which cooperates with a complementary threaded collar (7) of the container (2); a secondary annular axial extension (20) which seals between the container (2) and the passage (10); and a dome element (21) covering an opening of the container (2), and defining peripherally and laterally said evacuation passage (10) in lateral and peripheral connection with a first eccentric shaft (22) extending in said axial direction (D) adjoining and connected to said transverse wall (9), cooperating in a sealing fashion with a part of said elbowed passage (13) in said direction (D) whatever the position of said dispensing element (4). 
     
     
       3. Device according to claim 2, wherein said part of said elbowed passage (13) is a second eccentric shaft (23) whose exterior wall cooperates coaxially and in sealed fashion with an interior wall of said first eccentric shaft (22), defining, in an open position of the dispensing element (4) and in association with said evacuation passage (10) and a radial part of said elbowed passage (13), a sealed evacuation canal (24) between the interior of the container (2) and an exterior of the device. 
     
     
       4. Device according to claim 3, wherein, in the closed position of said dispensing element (4), said second eccentric shaft (23) seals said evacuating passage (10), a sealing lug (25) being disposed at a bottom of said first eccentric shaft (22) closing said eccentric shaft (23). 
     
     
       5. Device according to claim 1, wherein said first means for slidably guiding and blocking comprise a first part (26a) of said lateral wall (11) in contact with said lateral skirt (8) and a second part (26b) in contact with a part of said lateral wall (14) of said push button element (5) along a dividing line (27) of the cavity. 
     
     
       6. Device according to claim 1, wherein said first means for slidably guiding and blocking comprise a free edge (28) of said lateral wall (11) limiting a closing travel by coming into abutment against said transverse wall (9), and at least a lip (29) extending from said lateral wall (11), provided at its free extremity with a transversal abutment (30), sliding in a slit (31) in said transverse wall (9), said abutment (30) limiting the opening travel of the dispensing element (4) by coming into abutment against the periphery of said slit (31). 
     
     
       7. Device according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting element (6) has a general shape of a stirrup and is connected to the cap (3) by two diametrically opposed radial pins (32a, 32b) cooperating along the axis (16) with said lateral skirt (8), presenting an open angle (A) between free parts (18a and 18b) and a connecting part (17) provided on either side of the pins (32a, 32b) and wherein a part (33) disposed between the free parts (18a, 18b) allows passage of contents of the container (2). 
     
     
       8. Device according to claim 7, wherein the free parts (18a, 18b) of the pivoting element (6) each comprise a pin (34a, 34b) of axial direction in contact with an interior face (35) of a top face (12) of said dispensing element (4), on either side of said elbowed passage (13), and wherein the connecting part (17) has a pin (36) in axial direction in contact with an interior face (37) of a top face (15) of said push button element (5). 
     
     
       9. Device according to claim 1, wherein said lateral skirt (8) has a notch (38) providing access to said push button element (5). 
     
     
       10. Device according to claim 1, wherein in the closed position, top faces (12, 15) of said dispensing and push button elements (4) and (5) are flush with a border of said lateral skirt (8). 
     
     
       11. Device according to claim 1, wherein said device is made of rigid plastic materials. 
     
     
       12. Device according to claim 1, wherein said device is manufactured with the container (2), the cap (3) being an integral part of the container (2) whose lateral skirt (8) contacts said lateral wall.